It’s wishful thinking that LGBT Grain Valley students feel safe anywhere in school

Time to listen

As a board member of GLSEN Greater Kansas City, I oppose the decision of the Grain Valley school board to ban “safe space” signs. (May 2, 3A, “Grain Valley students rally after district bans LGBTQ signs”)

GLSEN has found that educators clearly displaying their support for LGBTQ+ students demonstrably decreases victimization. Safe space signs are effective ways to do just that.

The district responded to criticism of its board’s decision by stating all classrooms should be safe for students, not just those where signs are displayed. That ignores the realities that LGBTQ+ students face.

Society’s rigid and persistently communicated gender roles and norms leave many LGBTQ+ students feeling stigmatized, marginalized and hopeless. As a result, LGBTQ+ youths are at higher risk for mental illness, homelessness and suicide. Removing safe-space assurances accomplishes the exact opposite of the district’s stated goals.

I support LGBTQ+ youths and their allies who have courageously protested this dangerous decision, along with the staff members who have resisted this policy that jeopardizes the well-being of their students.

During the district’s proposed “listening sessions,” I hope district officials will truly listen to the voices of those affected and urge the board of education to quickly reverse its decision.

- Andy Schuerman, Kansas City

It’s no surprise

To be a woman in America is to exist in a constant state of unsurprise. We are taught from a young age always to be looking over our shoulders and preparing for the worst.

The news surrounding the leaked Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade hardly came as a shock to women. From the moment conservatives took a six-member majority on the court, the challenge to dismantle protections established for nearly 50 years was inevitable.

Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion makes it clear the court’s majority believes that precedent based in protecting fundamental rights through the 14th Amendment due process clause were incorrectly decided. Roe relied on the 14th Amendment for a right to privacy. However, there are other fundamental rights previously recognized through the 14th Amendment — including the right to marry. Alito has laid the foundation not only to overturn Roe, but to eviscerate several landmark decisions such as Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized gay marriage in 2015.

In June, if this draft becomes final, banning abortion will only be the beginning. Challenge after challenge will come, and before we know it, millions of people will have become aliens to their inalienable rights.

If, and when, this happens, just don’t be surprised.

- Allyson Ralls, Kansas City

Who would fill in?

The author of a Wednesday letter to the editor (12A) wrote that the solution to illegal immigration is to charge U.S. employers who hire illegal immigrants with a felony punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Does he have any idea how many industries would be affected by this approach? And who would replace those workers? I don’t see American workers, youths or adults, standing in line for many jobs that immigrants do so willingly and well.

- Skip Johnson, Overland Park

Smart with money

While the debate over the food tax in Kansas has garnered most of the headlines, an important budgetary measure has largely flown under the radar. My former colleagues in the Kansas Legislature have sent a bill to Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk that would spend more than $1 billion to prepay debt in our state’s public retirement system called KPERS. Paying down debt rather than taking on more — what a concept.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt was the first to suggest this plan to use surplus dollars to save money for taxpayers, protect the retirement accounts of our public servants such as teachers, firefighters and cops, and free up room in our state budget for future investments and tax relief. It compares favorably to Kelly’s past KPERS proposals to borrow more money and burden future generations of Kansans with billions in new debt.

I hope Gov. Kelly puts politics aside and signs Schmidt’s bill into law.

- Pat Apple, Louisburg